The Biggest PlayStation Games to Play in 2021 And Beyond

If 2020 was a big year for PlayStation due to a new console launch, next year could be even bigger. As third-party developers and Sony’s first-party studios spin into high gear on the new generation, many PS5 games are on the way. That includes new-gen exclusives that are only appearing on PS5, along with cross-generation games for PS4 players who haven’t quite updated yet.

And the games themselves run a wide gamut. From action to driving to RPG and kid-friendly platformers, you can find something for almost any taste. We’ve picked a few of the biggest games coming to PlayStation platforms over the next year below. Plan the coming months accordingly.

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 is releasing this year–very soon, in fact–but it will still be attracting lots of attention in 2021. That’s partly because the massive action-RPG from the makers of The Witcher video game series is releasing so late in the year, but also because the anticipated free next-gen update is slated to come in 2021. CD Projekt Red hasn’t detailed a date for the update, but we can expect some significant enhancements on PS5 when it’s ready.

Deathloop

Deathloop was pitched as a PS5 console exclusive and stayed that way even though Microsoft recently purchased its publisher, Bethesda. The stylish shooter presents a unique story centered on an island stuck in a time loop, where big-money spenders have come for an endless party free of consequences. As an assassin, you’re tasked with taking out key targets and breaking free of the loop, even as you’re being hunted yourself. It was recently pushed to a May 21 release date.

Destruction All-Stars

In an age of high-fidelity racers, Destruction All-Stars recalls a simpler time of derby-style mayhem. The car combat game has you bash your steel against opponents, and when your rig gets too banged up to run, you’ll get out and keep battling on foot. It’s coming in February and will be included with PlayStation Plus.

Dying Light 2

Dying Light 2 has been a long-time coming, shaking off acquisition rumors. We’re not sure when exactly to expect it since it was delayed indefinitely early this year. The sequel to the zombie survival game promises a community that will build dynamically around your choices. When the game does release, it’s expected to arrive on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Elden Ring

Elden Ring is the newest game from Dark Souls developer From Software. It’s being made in collaboration with George R.R. Martin, who is serving as a consultant for the project. The debut trailer offered little on what the game is about, but we do know that–like Dark Souls–it’s a dark fantasy game. It’s also worth noting that it’s an open-world action-RPG, which seems to be a bold step in a new direction for From Software. While the game isn’t set for this year, we’re hoping that we’ll at least get to hear more about it in the coming months. Currently, it’s slated to launch on PS4 and Xbox One.

Far Cry 6

So far, Ubisoft has only shown Far Cry 6 with cinematic trailers and screenshots, but those have revealed that the game is packing some major star power. Giancarlo Esposito, known for his iconic villain roles in shows like Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian, will play the game’s ruling despot, who is grooming his son to follow in his footsteps. It’s expected to arrive sometime after April 2021 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Final Fantasy XVI

Sony made Final Fantasy XVI a significant part of its PS5 showcase, and in the process, announced it’s set to be a PS5 console exclusive. The latest entry in the RPG franchise is directed by Hiroshi Takai of Romancing SaGa and The Last Remnant, with a development comprised of veterans from the FFXIV dev team. Based on the debut trailer, the game appears to take its cues from more western fantasy like Game of Thrones, which brings it far closer to the political intrigue present in FFXII and FF Tactics. Neither Sony nor Square Enix has confirmed this game’s release date.

Ghostwire: Tokyo

Another Bethesda game still destined for PS5 after the Microsoft acquisition, the upcoming Ghostwire: Tokyo is being developed by Tango Gameworks, a studio headed by former-Capcom veteran Shinji Mikami. The paranormal game takes place in a haunted Tokyo where mortals have disappeared. You’ll use a unique magic system to take down spirits and unravel the mystery behind the strange events. The game doesn’t have a confirmed release date.

God of War: Ragnarok

After the monster of a cliffhanger left at the end of the 2018 God of War, it seemed apparent that Sony would be developing a follow-up. That was confirmed with a short teaser promising “Ragnarok is Coming,” but it featured very little detail aside from that. In fact, it’s not even officially called God of War: Ragnarok, as Sony calls it: “New God of War title.” To be sure, that’s a working title, but time will tell what this next God of War game will be named and look like when it arrives sometime in 2021 for PS5.

Gotham Knights

This follow-up from Batman: Arkham Origins studio WB Montreal is another Batman game, but not starring the Batman. Instead, Gotham Knights is a single-player or co-op action game that features four playable characters–Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and Red Hood–after the apparent death of Bruce Wayne. With unique gadgets and abilities, you’ll take down Gotham’s supervillains to prove yourself worthy of the Bat-mantle. No release date has been confirmed for the game yet, but you can expect to play it on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Gran Turismo 7

Gran Turismo is the gold standard in car worship and always uses the advent of a new generation to showcase just how hard it can push the hardware to render ultra-realistic cars and environments. That certainly seems to be the case for Gran Turismo 7, which Polyphony says is targeting 4K resolution and 60FPS on PS5. Currently, there’s no confirmed release date for the upcoming driving-simulator.

Guilty Gear Strive

Announced at EVO 2019, the next game in the Guilty Gear fighter franchise is Guilty Gear Strive. Developer Arc System Works has already explained some of its fine-tuned mechanical changes for the hardcore fighting community. The biggest new addition so far is a Dash maneuver, which also impacts how your air-launches and counters will work. You can expect to play this stylish fighter on April 9, 2021, on PS5, PS4, and PC.

Hitman 3

The third and apparently final game in the World of Assassination trilogy, Hitman 3 is coming early in the year on January 20. As usual, it will feature vast environments with plenty of opportunities to take out your target, and IO promises it will be adding ray-tracing post-launch. It’s scheduled to release on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Switch (via cloud stream).

Hogwarts Legacy

Avalanche Software’s Harry Potter-themed game has been rumored for a long time, but it’s only recently that WB Games finally debuted it with the official title, Hogwarts Legacy. The game takes place in the late 1800s, and you can craft your own wizard who will learn spells and tame fantastical beasts. All the same, though, WB has been distancing the game from the controversial author and Harry Potter creator JK Rowling. It’s coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Horizon: Forbidden West

Horizon: Zero Dawn was a major new franchise for Sony, so its sequel couldn’t be far behind. The heroic Aloy once again explores a vast wasteland of mechanized monsters in her search for answers, and the screenshots shown so far using the PS5 version look beautiful. Horizon: Forbidden West is set to release sometime in 2021 for PS5 and PS4.

Jett: The Far Shore

A space exploration game from the Superbrothers team has you travel across strange new worlds as you seek a new home. As a scout deployed to an ocean planet, you’ll need to adapt to the open world and get to know your traveling companions to survive and learn new challenges. Jett: The Far Shore doesn’t have a confirmed release date yet in 2021 but is expected to release on PS4, PS5, and PC.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

During the PS5 debut event, the cinematic game Kena: Bridge of Spirits impressed with a highly-detailed, animated visual style. Though it was delayed to early 2021 due to development challenges moving to remote work, it looks like it’ll be an impressive showpiece once it launches. Though, the game will also be available on PS4 and PC.

Little Nightmares 2

The sequel to the puzzle-platformer horror game Little Nightmares and continues the story after Six escapes the Maw. In this one, she teams up with a new character, Mono, and together they make their way through the creepy Pale City. You can expect to dive into Little Nightmares 2 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on February 11, 2021.

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Lego Star Wars games have been plentiful, but now with the Skywalker Saga having concluded, the team Traveler’s Tales is taking a fresh look at all nine movies. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga isn’t a remake or a compilation; it’s a new take on the classic Lego gameplay with a story and characters that span the entire numbered franchise. It’s expected to release in Spring 2021 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Switch.

Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139…

Following on the breakout success of Nier Automata, Square Enix is bringing back a previous game that you may have missed. Nier Replicant ver. 1.22 (etc.) is a modern retelling of the original Nier from 2010, featuring the formerly Japanese-exclusive version of the storyline. In this version, instead of a father trying to cure his sister of a deadly disease, it’s a brother. You can finally experience this classic once it arrives on April 23 for PS4.

Oddworld: Soulstorm

Oddworld has been getting a modern-day revival lately, and Oddworld: Soulstorm is the next chapter. The platformer is a remake of the 1998 classic Abe’s Exoddus and will continue the story from Oddworld: New N Tasty. It’s said to feature some favorite areas brought back from Exoddus, alongside entirely new stages. Currently, the game is slated for 2020, but it seems more likely it’ll be pushed to 2021. Regardless, you can expect to play it on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC.

Project Athia

Not much is known about Square Enix’s PS5 console exclusive Project Athia. A brief teaser trailer showed off the art style and some fantastical creatures, but aside from that glimpse, it’s still quite a mystery. In fact, until Final Fantasy XVI was unveiled, there was speculation that Athia was just a codename for the next Final Fantasy game. When there’s that much guesswork involved, there’s plenty more to learn before release.

Psychonauts 2

Psychonauts 2 is another odd crossing of acquisitions, coming from another recent Xbox-acquired studio, Double Fine. The next chapter to the cult classic brings back the mental explorer Raz, newly graduated from his psychonaut training, to use Psi powers as he delves into minds to unlock problems (and platforming challenges). Currently, the game has only been confirmed to launch on PS4. Given the acquisition, it’s likely that Microsoft might position Psychonauts as a next-gen exclusive to Xbox Series X/S, but time will tell if that turns out to be true.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

The Ratchet & Clank franchise has been a PlayStation mainstay for years, and the next one, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, looks to be a showpiece for the PS5. The trailers and gameplay demos have shown Ratchet seamlessly jumping between dimensions, a neat, practical application of the fast-loading power of the PS5 SSD. Of course, we can also expect all the usual platforming-shooter action with a variety of wild weapons. This one is set to release on PS5 sometime in 2021.

Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil Village is the eighth numbered entry in the classic survival-horror franchise and will follow the shift to a first-person perspective set by Resident Evil 7. This one will be set in a small European town rife with creepy events. The events begin when Ethan looks to learn more about surprising decisions made by Chris Redfield, leading him to the titular village. No specific release date has been announced yet, but it will arrive sometime in 2021 on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

Returnal

A mind-bending sci-fi thriller, Returnal is a departure for Housemarque, a studio known more for games like Super Stardust. You’re Selene, a pilot stranded on an alien planet. The plot involves a time loop revival to explain its roguelike elements as you explore the strange world. The game is a PS5-exclusive and is scheduled to release sometime in 2021.

Stray

The cyberpunk aesthetic is a popular one these days, but in Stray, you’re not a technomancer or bounty hunter. You’re a cat. The PS5-exclusive third-person adventure game has you navigating the seedy neon side of a cyberpunk future as you unravel a mystery and look awfully cute in the process.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

Daedelic’s Lord of the Rings game focuses squarely on everyone’s favorite creepy little monster, Gollum. The action-adventure game is still mostly a mystery, but Daedelic has said it plans to introduce a fresh take on the character not connected to the iconic Peter Jackson film franchise. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC.

Unknown 9: Awakening

Unknown 9: Awakening is just one part of a trans-media story, spanning not only a game but a scripted podcast, novel series, and comic books. The story follows the Leap Year Society, which aims to solve mysteries around the world by solving puzzles. It’s unknown how this game will fit into the overall picture of the Unknown 9 universe, but it represents a unique approach to storytelling. It’s scheduled to come out sometime in 2021 for PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is a long-awaited sequel to the 2004 cult classic RPG. You choose your alliance from three vampiric clans in the dark background of modern-day Seattle and try to live out your days feeding on victims while hiding your identity from fearful humans and the police. You can expect to play it on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC sometime in 2021.